Several months had passed since the CF shoot.

Or maybe it was because I hadn't seen the final version of the CF beforehand.

"Everyone stumbles sometimes, and sometimes we all feel overwhelmed by the challenges ahead."

Seeing my first CF for the first time on the living room TV was… different. No, it felt very different from what I'd expected.

It wasn’t that the CF concept that Director Kang Eun-tae had shared with me had been edited beyond recognition. Rather, it took a lot more courage than I thought it would to confront my own image reflected back at me on a TV screen instead of in a small hand mirror.

Because of that, I didn’t sleep well for the first time.

And, of all days, the day after the CF aired was my first day of kindergarten, so there was no chance of sleeping in, let alone taking a nap.

"Ha-eun~. You can’t be late on your first day of kindergarten~."

"…I know…."

With what felt like the weight of dumbbells on my eyelids that morning, I barely managed to get up and start getting ready. Ten minutes later, I looked the part of a proper kindergartener.

Though, technically, the kindergarten’s entrance ceremony had already happened six months ago. My mom, a little more enthusiastic than the average parent about my education, had been searching for the best kindergarten for me, which led us here, in the middle of fall.

"On the first day, everyone might feel a little awkward, Ha-eun. But if you gather the courage to talk to others, you'll make friends quickly."

I was about to join a group of kids who’d already gotten somewhat close to one another. Being a high school detective in a child’s body was one thing, but trying to befriend six-year-olds was another. I doubted I’d feel all that disappointed if I didn’t manage to make friends right away.

Still, I knew my parents would worry if they heard that I was struggling to connect with kids my age.

"The more friends, the better, right?"

"Of course. If you get along with your friends, you’ll have more fun too, Ha-eun."

So, I decided to try and befriend as many kids as possible, just as Mom wanted. After all, she had spent the last half-year comparing and contrasting various kindergartens to provide the best environment for me; it would be a shame to let her efforts go to waste.

With that in mind, we finally arrived at a private kindergarten a bit of a distance from home.

"You got this, honey!"

"…I got this."

I clenched one of my fists lightly in response to her encouraging double-fist pump. Shortly after, a teacher who’d been informed of my arrival led me to a classroom called the Dalnim (Moonbeam) Class.

"Everyone, we have a new friend joining us today."

At the soft voice of the teacher, all eyes turned to me. Around twenty pairs of bright little eyes stared intently at me, which felt a little unfamiliar.

‘Hmm… more kids than I expected.’

This was my first time ever attending kindergarten, even across both of my lives, so I felt a little strange. When I thought about it, I’d missed more days than I’d attended during elementary, middle, and high school.

Technically, this was the first real school life I’d ever experienced. But at least now, I wouldn’t be going to the hospital instead of school anymore.

Blending in with these fresh-faced kids didn’t seem like such a bad idea. I’d have to think about what kind of expression might help me approach them.

"Our new friend’s name is Lee Ha-eun. She’ll be with us from now on, so let’s all give her a big welcome!"

-Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap-

Applause echoed through the classroom. Three seconds later, one of the kids raised their hand enthusiastically.

"Teacher! I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere before!"

"Really? Where do you think you saw her, Si-woo?"

"Hmm… I don’t remember. But she looks familiar."

It seemed that yesterday’s CF had left a faint trace in his memory. Still, it felt a bit embarrassing to admit I’d been in a CF, so for now, I decided to play innocent.

I didn’t want to brag about being on TV, as that might make me seem like I had some kind of celebrity syndrome.

"Now, Ha-eun, why don’t you go to your seat? You can take the empty seat by the window."

Following the teacher’s pointing finger, I walked over to my assigned seat. When playtime started, I tried to talk to as many kids as possible.

Due to the difference in mental age, it wasn’t easy to immediately grasp the intention behind the kids' words or the type of interest they had in me.

"Hey, Ha-eun. Want to play doctor with us?"

"Sure."

I didn’t push away the kids who approached me, whether they wanted to play with me or had questions. It seemed my flawless appearance—a perk of reincarnation—worked its charm even on kindergarten kids.

Among the peacefully flowing moments, there was one unexpected thing.

"Doctor, how much longer do I have to live?"

"Oh."

"Oh, oh, five years?"

"Oh, four, three, two, one, zero. You’re dead."

‘…Is this a morning drama?’

The kids were far more ruthless than I’d imagined.

Within seconds, the doctor game had suddenly turned into a funeral game.

"Hey, Ha-eun, how can you open your eyes when you’re dead?"

"…Sorry."

Keeping up with their stream-of-consciousness play was no easy feat. Unlike during the CF shoot, there was no script, so this improv acting was even more challenging.

---

"So, you’re the one reaching out first. Something going on?"

"Going on? No, I just wanted to catch up."

Kang Eun-tae’s high school friend, Lee Jun, suggested they go inside with an arm around his shoulder, and Kang Eun-tae obligingly followed him to a nearby barbecue place. After being led to a room with walls on all sides, they settled in.

The only reason for choosing a private room was simple: Lee Jun was a popular hip-hop artist and a regular on a primetime variety show.

"If people recognize me, I’ll get indigestion and won’t be able to eat."

"Hmm, so that belly of yours can get indigestion, huh?"

As they exchanged light-hearted jokes, the atmosphere gradually relaxed, and their stomachs were partly satisfied by the glistening meat.

"The ad you did recently, Eun-tae, it has a really good vibe."

Talk turned to Kang Eun-tae’s CF, which had garnered considerable attention as an innovative move in the advertising world. They also touched on the new music video for Double Lee, the hip-hop crew Lee Jun belonged to.

Strictly speaking, a CF and a music video had different vibes. But in a way, a music video was like a CF introducing music as a product to consumers.

"I actually have the storyboard with me right now. Can you take a quick look?"

"Sure, hand it over."

It wasn’t surprising that Lee Jun wanted feedback from the skilled CF director Kang Eun-tae.

Taking a set of around ten storyboards from Lee Jun, Kang Eun-tae began to carefully review the concept for Double Lee’s new music video, *Matchstick*.

"This concept is great."

"Really?"

"Yeah. There’s always a reason for success."

In Kang Eun-tae’s opinion, the storyboard Lee Jun presented didn’t need any adjustments. In other words, it could go into production as it was without any issues.

However, seeing Lee Jun insistently ask him to check every last page made him a bit suspicious.

As he finished his review and looked at the last storyboard, he noticed a blank space for the role of the matchstick girl.

‘…No way.’

When his gaze drifted from the storyboard to Lee Jun, it was just as he suspected.

"The girl from your ad—her name was Lee Ha-eun, right?"

With a sly grin, Lee Jun finally revealed the real reason he’d invited him out.

"So, can you give me Ha-eun’s contact info, Eun-tae? I'll cover everything tonight."

Ha, and here he’d claimed he just wanted to catch up.

"Fame’s made you ruthless, Jun."

"Come on, help me out. Gun-yeol and I have been searching high and low, but no one fits our music video better than Ha-eun."

Kang Eun-tae looked at Lee Jun's earnest expression. Lee Jun wasn’t one to compromise when it came to music.

"Alright, then I’m ordering more meat."

It was clear to Kang Eun-tae that Lee Jun felt the same certainty about Ha-eun that he’d felt when he first met her.

"Sure, order whatever you want. I’m not full yet, either."

A short while later, thick slices of beef sizzled on the heated grill, turning a rich brown.

And just like the meat gradually changing color, the butterfly effect of Kang Eun-tae introducing Ha-eun to the screen was slowly becoming more apparent.